Mervin L. Budke

Mervin Budke, 80, of rural Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at his home.

He was born March 18, 1935, at the home of his parent’s, Henry and Alida (Gilbertson) Budke, in Friberg Township, rural Fergus Falls. He was baptized and confirmed at Tonseth Lutheran Church and attended rural school through the 8th grade.

Mervin started working at the age of 14 for his brother-in-law, Jim Hasbargen in Foxhome and continued to work for several Hasbargens in the Everdell area.

On September 1, 1955, he married Ervena Stensrude at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They made their home in Everdell, until moving to Friberg Township in 1961, where he continued to live until his death. They milked cows, farmed and raised cattle.

In 1986, they started the lunch counter at the Fergus Falls Sales Barn with Soren and Mavis Kugler and later worked auction sales with the B & K Lunch Wagon until 2001. In 2003 he made the family campground at the river.

Mervin was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and enjoyed spearing, deer hunting, camping and card playing. His favorite pastimes were spending time with his family at the river campground and sitting around the campfire.

Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters, Ann (Jim) Hasbargen, Myrt Keller, Marcella Budke and Rosemary Rasmusson; brothers, Roy Budke and Jerry Budke; and brothers-in-law, Errol Kugler and Gaylen Jorgenson.

Survivors include his wife, Ervena; sons, Marc (Kathi), Scott (Sandi), Todd (Myrna), Leon (Noelia), and Cory (Teresa); numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Donald (Kathleen) Budke, a sister, JoAnn Kugler; brothers and sisters-in-law, Cyril Keller, Renee Budke, Mavis Budke, Don Rasmusson and Ethelyn Jorgenson

Memorials are preferred to Lakeland Hospice, Fergus Falls

Visitation; 5-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2015, at the funeral home
Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2015, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Friberg Township, rural Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Noel Herr
Interment: St. Paul Cemetery
Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls in charge of arrangements